Senate also passes contentious tweaks to Peca

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Tuesday passed the contentious amendments to PECA Amendment Bill, 2025 despite strong opposition, with critics led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers, who described the PECA bill as hasty and vindictive legislation.

The amendments sparked intense debate, with many arguing that they could be used to silence government critics and stifle free speech. JUI-F’s Kamran Murtaza submitted certain amendments to the bill but they were not taken up in the House. The journalists stormed out of the press gallery whereas the joint opposition walked out of the Senate but returned soon afterwards. The opposition legislators started the protest against the law even before the PECA Amendment Bill was moved in the House. However, initially, despite repeated requests, Leader of the Opposition Syed Shibli Faraz was not given the floor by the Chair Syedaal Khan.

The bill was moved in the House by Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on behalf of Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi. It has already been passed by the National Assembly and will now become an act of parliament following a formal assent by President Asif Ali Zardari. ANP chief Aimal Wali Khan came near Kamran Murtaza to take advantage of the open mike to condemn what he called curbs on the freedom of expression. He regretted that the stakeholders including the media had not been consulted over the bill and said ‘one can smell boots and uniform behind the legislation’. Shibli Faraz, who was finally given the floor, said the PECA amendments were aimed at targeting a specific political party and argued that when a new law is introduced, its intent is scrutinised. Whether it’s social media or any other medium, it should operate within specific boundaries. He feared that the PECA law was not meant for reforms, but rather it sought to punish people and appeared to be vindictive, adding, “laws are made to protect people, or to obviate something and it takes time to make quality legislation involving consultations with the stakeholders”.

Faraz continued that the young generation, the majority of which supports PTI, thinks differently. They have questions in their minds and want to clear their concepts. Give them an ecosystem where they can grow and give ideas.

The opposition leaders cautioned that political victimisation would increase after the passage of the controversial bill and open the doors for arresting people in the name of its violation. The chair did not allow PTI parliamentary leader Syed Ali Zafar to move amendments to the bill and said the amendments were required to be submitted two days in advance.

After PECA Amendment Bill, 2025 was adopted, replying to Shibli Faraz’s concerns, the Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain said the bill was specifically for social media and had nothing to do with print and electronic media. He added the law was not divine and amendments could be brought to improve it. Tanveer Hussain added positive criticism is always welcome but unrest could not be allowed and that there are various forums for remedy, if anyone feels so.

Earlier, Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar moved a motion seeking leave of the House to take up the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, for immediate consideration. In a bid to cool down tempers, Azam Tarar was on his feet to explain that the PECA amendments were yet to come before the House and the bill under consideration at present was about digitalizing Pakistan.

The House approved the ’Digital Nation Pakistan Bill. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar explained that the bill was aimed at digitalising the whole system to align with modern-day requirements. He said the bill aims to create a digital identity for citizens — to centralise social, economic and governance data — and to provide for the transformation of Pakistan into a digital nation, enabling a digital society, digital economy and digital governance. Three other bills to amend existing laws were introduced in the House by Law Minister on behalf of the Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, which include the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Amendment Bill, 2025, the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Amendment Bill, 2025 and the Emigration Amendment Bill, 2025.